Tips for avoiding decision-making overload

[whimsy]

I am one of the most spontaneous people you will ever meet on the planet. I hate routines, never buy the same brand of shampoo twice, and refuse to sleep on the same side of the bed each night. You may identify with this, or not, but either way, read on for a packing tip I've refined over the past few Burns.

I make as many of the basic, boring decisions as possible at home. I organize my clothes into ziplock bags, one for each day. Meals, too. I even write crib notes about activities and people I want to see. Sounds anal, doesn't it?

But when we get to the Playa, we all suffer from decision-making overload. What to wear? Where to go? What to do? Who to see? What to eat? When to sleep? Something always suffers.

One year, for me, it was my costumes. By the third day, every item of clothing was piled in a 4-foot heap inside my van, and I spent hours looking for what I wanted instead of going out. My neighbor was out running around, and every few hours, he came back to camp and found me there, rummaging. "You still here?" he said, the first time he came back. The second time, it was, "You still here?" Incredulous. And the third time, "Sheesh, give up and go out the way you are!"

Another year, it was the food. I brought easy-to-cook stuff, but waaaaay too much variety. I was too overwhelmed to decide what to cook. So I ate trail mix all week and spent a lot of time in the porta-potties.

I'm not trying to ruin spontaneity. By making decisions ahead of time, I free myself up to be spontaneous about the important stuff. I can always revise my decisions when I get there. So if you see me hanging out at the Happy Spot, I won't be spending all my time cooking and getting dressed -- I can drop everything to join new friends for good times.

Yours in dust,
Hug Slut

[Eric]

One year, for me, it was my costumes. By the third day, every item of clothing was piled in a 4-foot heap inside my van, and I spent hours looking for what I wanted instead of going out.

I organize my suits for nighttime before I leave. Get a large sealed suit bag, on one hanger put slacks, shirt, tie, jacket. Decide the order they're to be worn in, put them in the bag that way (Saturday's suit is at the back, Mondays at the front). Unzip bag, take out suit, dress. Done.

At home I do the same thing as you- my boyfriend hates being in the house when I'm dressing because I keep altering bits and asking how it looks. By doing it at home and not bringing extras, I take that element away. If I decide I don't like something once I'm there- tough. Like anyone else will notice.

[Elderberry]

Have.either of you tried therapy?

[Eric]

Have.either of you tried therapy?

Why? Creative people tend to respond to some things differently- I am always fiddling with my art pieces until I get them where I want them, regardless of whether its a piece of jewelry, a photo, or a painting; I do the same thing with my look when I go out.

I don't need therapy because I can see multiple options where others only see one. Personally I think the person who can only see one option needs it.

[C.f.M.]

For regionals, when I go all out the costumes, I pack each one seperately into a plastic big with the clothing, under garments, socks, make-up, jewelry, wigs, whatever. It stays neatly packed away until I wear it, then it all goes back into the bag! Before I had this method I had a mess.

[some seeing eye]

One technique is to ask for help from a campmate or friend, someone who understands you ideally, and has the opposite personality. Describe your feelings and parameters trust the suggestion, then get out and enjoy. I have definitely had the overstimulation response, where I just want to hang in the tent for a while! Having a comfy group shade spot to talk to campmates, watch the world go by or just listen is great. Going to HeeBeeGeeBee Healers for a reset is always a pleasure.

[CapSmashy]

I've always discovered I can beat the decision making overload into submission with a copious amount of Vodka. 7 or 8 shots of Stoli, and the fretting over picking out what to wear evaporates.

I find this same method to be extremely helpful when packing at home as well. Get all of the essentials loaded, socks, undies, regular clothes, etc and then apply vodka therapy for deciding over packing a tote full of costume stuff you will likely not wind up touching this year either. Problem solved, extra space on the bus and I need more vodka.

[Elderberry]

That was my poor attempt at humor. I guess I should have inserted a few smilies.
My costume closet consists of white t-shirts, khaki slacks and a few sarongs. I can reach into drainer in the dark and pull out a perfect outfit!

Have.either of you tried therapy?

Why? Creative people tend to respond to some things differently- I am always fiddling with my art pieces until I get them where I want them, regardless of whether its a piece of jewelry, a photo, or a painting; I do the same thing with my look when I go out.

I don't need therapy because I can see multiple options where others only see one. Personally I think the person who can only see one option needs it.

[phil]

> I can reach into a draw in the dare

I reached into a draw in the dare once and learned my lesson on that!

Louise and I have the same organization on our meals. Neither of us is a creative cook, but we follow recipes. So our first year we brought all our ingredients in a big box, and spent way too long in the hot van trying to find that particular size can of peas, that bottle of oregano, and whatever. So now we save the plastic bags our newspapers come in and bag each meal, print out the recipe and put that in the bag, then label the bag with the name of the recipe. We have a list of all our meals for each day, pick a meal, find that bag, and everything we need to cook that meal is in the bag.

There are some exceptions, of course. It may be that we have a meal with a refrigerated item, so that's in the ice chest; but many of our meals are all canned goods and some rice. So all the measured quantities are in that bag, even down to the spices. We find it very handy not to have to dig through a big box o' stuff looking for individual items we need for a meal.

I'm not that organized for clothes because I wear underwear, socks, a pair of shorts, and a shirt. I don't care which particular shorts, shirt, etc.

[Elderberry]

LOL "drawer in the dark". Damn spell check.

[Elderberry]

Interesting, we do pretty much the same thing for meals. John also keeps a detailed planning book with everything...tickets are kept in their, hotel reservations, things we want to do on the playa, to do lists, shopping lists, receipts, maps, you name it, it's in that book if it has anything to do with the event. That's also where we keep any recipes I might want to refer too. We have a book for every year we have gone. On the way home, we take notes for next year, things like "This year we brought two cases of water and only used one. Next year bring less" for example. These are things that if not noted are soon forgotten and the same mistakes are repeated.

> I can reach into a draw in the dare

I reached into a draw in the dare once and learned my lesson on that!

Louise and I have the same organization on our meals. Neither of us is a creative cook, but we follow recipes. So our first year we brought all our ingredients in a big box, and spent way too long in the hot van trying to find that particular size can of peas, that bottle of oregano, and whatever. So now we save the plastic bags our newspapers come in and bag each meal, print out the recipe and put that in the bag, then label the bag with the name of the recipe. We have a list of all our meals for each day, pick a meal, find that bag, and everything we need to cook that meal is in the bag.

There are some exceptions, of course. It may be that we have a meal with a refrigerated item, so that's in the ice chest; but many of our meals are all canned goods and some rice. So all the measured quantities are in that bag, even down to the spices. We find it very handy not to have to dig through a big box o' stuff looking for individual items we need for a meal.

I'm not that organized for clothes because I wear underwear, socks, a pair of shorts, and a shirt. I don't care which particular shorts, shirt, etc.